The two-minute film (above) will air tomorrow (17 November) before Gogglebox on Channel 4, while teaser clips have premiered across the broadcaster since Tuesday.

It follows the story of a little girl who spends the day saving a carrot stick for Santa's reindeer, only to be told by her brother: "You know there's more than one, right?" To avert disaster, the dad gets in the car and picks up a bag of carrot sticks from McDonald's to ensure the family is #ReindeerReady.

The film, created by advertising agency Leo Burnett, was inspired by the recognisable Christmas tradition of saving snacks for Santa and his sleigh-bearers, McDonald's said, and is designed to tap into the excitement and anticipation of the festive season.

Katie Parker, head of marketing, brand and experience at McDonald's UK, added: "The ad also reminds people that McDonald's has a role to play in providing a brief respite during the busy Christmas period - particularly when out shopping."

Social tie-in

Parker said the film would be supplemented by secondary media activity throughout November and December, including a partnership with Snapchat.

The partnership includes a hub on the platform with three McDonald's-inspired features. The first is a game that tasks players with collecting carrots. Parker said this was a "playful reflection of the ad" through which friends and family could share scores.

The second feature is an AR lens that allows users to see a dancing reindeer through their smartphones, while the third is a series of geofilters available at McDonald's restaurants throughout the UK.

Parker said the tie-in on social media was "crucial" for ensuring the success of this year's campaign, which also includes Christmas jumpers, novelty antlers, and branded baubles.

Last year's McDonald's Christmas campaign followed Juliette, a vintage doll destined to spend another Christmas alone. It achieved close to 100,000 views on YouTube, while a follow-up ad about the chain's festive menu, featuring the doll spying on a family, has been viewed more than 500,000 times.

What does the PRWeek Christmas panel think?

Emma Hazan, global head of consumer at Hotwire, said: "Considering McDonald's got its ‘dead dad’ ad earlier in the year so terribly wrong it’s great to see them get this Christmas ad so right. McDonald's is not a brand that leaps out at me when I think of Christmas but it’s a charmingly sweet story. And choosing Snapchat for the partnership is smart for the younger audience they clearly want to reach - especially those who may not see the ad on TV."